Combination corn husking device



July- 20, 1937. J. R. KrrcHEL COMBINATION CORN HUSKING DEVICE FiledMarch 2, 1956 l, J .415/4552405,5J/ij, J j

Patented July 20, 1937 UNITE.

3 Claims.

This invention relates to corn husking devices and in more particular todevices supplementing husking hooks.

An object of this invention is to provide devices to aid in the rapidand thorough manual removal oi husks from corn.

Another object of this invention is to provide a husk stripping deviceto clean the husk from the corn.

io Another object of this invention isto provide husking devices thatare cheap, efcient, easily manipulated and durable.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device that is easilyoperated, requiring l5 less eiiort, thereby saving the huskers strength.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device wherein only twooperations are required in husking corn, thereby speeding up the work onthe farm.

With the above primary and other incidental` objects in view, as willmore fully appear in the specification, the invention consists of thefeatures of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and themode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter described andset forth in the claims.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the husking hook and thestripping peg as applied to one hand.

30 Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a husk stripping device mounted uponthe other hand.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an ear of corn grasped by one handhaving the husk removed by the other.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the lineifi-li of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is another perspective view of the hook and stripping peg as usedwhen the ear hangs downwardly.

Fig. 4 has been drawn to a larger scale than that used in Figs. l, 2 and3.

In the modiiications shown in the drawing and in the description thereofthat follows, the husking hook and the stripping peg have been at- 45tached to the right hand and the stripping device attached to the lefthand, the natural attachment of these devices for a right handed person.For a left handed person the husking hook and peg will, of course, beattached tothe 50 left hand and the husk stripping device mounted uponthe right hand.

Various types of hooks are used by corn pickers,

that are attached to the right hand for removing the husk from one sideof the ear of corn, 55 the corn picker stripping the balance of the (Cl.13u-4) husk by the left hand, leaving the ear free to be grasped by theright hand, which gives it a snap to break the ear from the shank. Ifthe husk is heavy or if the corn picker doesnt happen to manipulate hishook properly, some of the husks are left on the ear, which prevents theleft hand from removing all of the husks. Husks left on ears areobjectionable. Even though all the husks may be removed from one side ofthe ear by the hook, the corn pickers left hand usually wearing a canvasmitten, may fail to remove all of the husks, thereby leaving some of thehusks on the ear.

In the present embodiment a husk stripping peg is mounted adjacent tothe hook, which gives a stripping action to strip any residual husksthat may be left by the hook. This insures cleaner corn, free of husks.In order to aid the left hand in removing the husks, a stripping membercarried in the palm of the hand, having stripping teeth overlying thethumb, aids in the complete removal of all of the husks by the lefthand. The tooth arrangement oi this member will strip the ne silk-likehusks found next to the kernels, even though this husk may have atendency to stick to the ear.

A flexible member l strapped around the hand of the corn picker isprovided with a strap I2 that is passed around the thumb. Similararrangement is used on several types or" corn picking hooks. Theflexible member it has attached thereto a metallic plate I4, that isshaped to fit over the base of the thumb and is provided with a portionI6 extending over the proximal phalanx of the rthumb terminating in ahook in the proximity of the distal phalanx joint of the thumb. Thishook I 8 is mounted adjacent to a husk stripping peg 2li and are joinedbefore the curvature 22 merges into the substantially at portion i6.Portion I6 may be either integral with, welded to or secured in positionby suitable screws or rivets. In the modification disclosed in Fig. 1,i6 has been welded to the plate It.

In order to provide a solid support and close t for the plate I4 asuitable pad .il is preferably inserted under the flexible member I@ soas to be seated in the pit of the palm of the hand. This uniform supportfor the plate I fi relieves the strain upon the wrist of the cornpicker, thereby easing the operation.

As the corn picker advances the hook I into the husk, the stripper 2Dremoves the residual husks, in that 20 follows the hook I8. The hook I8travels in advance of the stripper or peg 2D, as the corn picker drawshis hand towards himself during the first operation of removing the Yhusks from the ear. Y

After the right hand has removed the husk Yfrom one side of the ear, thecorn picker usually grasps the remaining husks by the left hand, leavingthe right hand free to break the ear from the shank. In the .preferredmodification, the left hand supports a exible member 3B, similar to theflexible member HLstrapped to the hand in like manner. This member 30supports a metal plate 32, overlying the base of the thumb andterminating in a plurality of stripping hooks 34. The number of hooks orteeth may vary, depending upon the 'demands of the individual using thedevices and upon the type of corn that is husked.Y The husk strippingrhooks 34 aid the Yleft hand in removing the balance of the husks Y fromthe ear, so that as the ear Yis broke-n from vinto the husking wagon orpile.

the shank noneV of the husks adhere thereto.

Many corn huskers or pickers When using the prior art devices, due totheir shape and location of the husking hook or peg, nd it necessary toorient the ear into a predetermined angular relation with respect to theposition of the husker before proceeding Withthe husking operations.

The hook I8 and peg 20 permit the rapid husking of corn by tWooperations of the right hand ,Whether the ear points upwardly as shownin.

Fig. 3 ordoWnWardly as shown in Fig. 5. Y In either event the right handrst strips the husk along one side of the ear followedby a secondmovement when the ear is grasped by the right hand, probably given aslight twist and thrown During these operations With the right hand, theleft hand Y holds the ear and strips the husk by the hooks Y Y thatthere is thus'provided adevice of 'the char'- Y `acter describedpossessing the particular features or teeth 34. Thus, it may be seen,that applicants device expedites the Work `enabling the users thereof toacquire great speed and efficiency;

From the above description it will be apparent of 'advantage beforeenumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible ofmodification in its form, proportions, detail construction andarrangement of partsV Without departing from the principle involved orsacrificing any of its advantages. ,Y

While in order to comply with the statute, the invention'has` beendescribed in language more or less specic 'as to structural features, itis to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificfeatures shown, but that' the means and construction herein disclosedcomprise the preferred form of Aseveral modes of put'- ting theinvention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed inV any ofits forms or modications within the legitimate and valid scope of theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: l. A co-rn husking deviceincluding a flexible member fitting the hand, and corn husking.

means carried by said flexible member, said means including a base platehaving integral therewith a unitary curved portion supported in theproximity to the distal phalange joint of the thumb and terminating in ahook portion for removing theV outerportion ofthe husk from one side ofVthe ear, said curved portion supporting a second hook merging into thefirst hook in spaced relation with respect to` the flexible member andhaving a lesser degree of curvature than the first mentioned hook, saidsecond hook stripping the residual husk from the same side of theear,

saidrhooks pointing awayfrom the end of the thumb. Y Y

2. A corn husking device including a flexible member tting the hand anda metallic plate member overlying Vthe base` of the thumb and merginginto an outwardly projecting curved portion terminating in a huskinghookpointingaway from the end of the thumb, said curved portionV alsomergingY into an outwardly'projecting husk stripping hook locatedtowards the inside of the" hand, said husk stripping hook beingsubstantially normal to the underlyingl portion4 ofthe thumb andconnected tothe bight of the first hook, the rst hook removing the bulk`of the husk on one side of the ear, the huskV stripping hook removingany residual husk on said sideof Y the ear.

3. A corn husking device including la flexible member fitting the hand,and a-metallic plate member overlying aV portion of the hand and

